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When it comes to best drugstore concealer, these are at the top.
Okay, friends. Today we’re discussing all things drugstore concealer. We’re going to take a deep dive into beloved formulas from brands like Maybelline, NYX, e.l.f., and Colourpop, to see why these concealers are the best and what they are best for. Not all concealers are created equally. Some are best for light, dewy coverage, while others are best for matte, full coverage. Remember, what works for us may not work for you. But, in our opinion, these are the best drugstore concealer formulas that lever let the Milabu Team down.
Best Overall: NYX Bare With Me Serum Concealer
Bare With Me Concealer
MILABU RATING **** (4.3)
Value **** (4.4)
Application ***** (4.7)
Coverage ***** (4.7)
Feel/Finish/Texture ***** (4.6)
Longevity **** (4.4)
Shade Range ** (2.5)
Extra Benefits **** (4.5)
Why We Love It: One of our favorite drugstore makeup products to come out of 2021 is NYX Bare With Me Serum Concealer. We could go on and on about how much we love this concealer, but we’ll keep it brief. It has a buildable medium to full coverage that feels and looks lightweight on the skin. Despite its thicker formula, it blends with ease and resists settling, even under the eyes. The formula has sort of a self-setting property and is super fluid, stretching with the skin, giving it a beautiful 8+ hour wear. However, we still recommend setting with a loose finishing powder to really lock it in place! Gone are the days of worrying about your concealer not covering enough, accentuating texture, or looking creased and cakey.
Next time you’re perusing the Target or Ulta makeup aisles, pick up this concealer. You can thank us later!
Most Iconic: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer
MILABU RATING **** (4.1)
Value **** (4.1)
Application ***** (4.7)
Coverage **** (3.8)
Feel/Finish/Texture **** (4.5)
Longevity **** (4.0)
Shade Range *** (3.4)
Extra Benefits **** (4.0)
Why We Love It: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind is like a trademark of the early 2010s YouTube beauty gurus. Everyone swore this little tube of magic was the best concealer at the drugstore. And, I can’t argue with the masses: Even today, this concealer still stands its own. It has a unique packaging with its attached sponge applicator and twist up product dispersement (which can be messy if you’re not careful). But, Instant Age Rewind covers dark circles, brightens under eyes, and smooths fine lines. It remains one of the best concealers for a bright eyed, wide awake look. Let’s also not forget, it’s reasonably priced and easy on the wallet.
Most Universal: LA Girl HD Pro Concealer
MILABU RATING **** (4.1)
Value ***** (5.0)
Application **** (4.0)
Coverage **** (4.0)
Feel/Finish/Texture **** (3.8)
Longevity *** (3.5)
Shade Range **** (4.4)
Extra Benefits *** (3.5)
Why We Love It: Not only does LA Girl PRO.Conceal camouflage imperfections and brighten under eyes, but it can also be used as a color corrector and a liquid contour. It has an expansive shade range with 30 concealer shades, 10 color correctors, and 3 highlighting shades. The texture is creamy, ultra blendable (we recommend using a brush!), and buildable to a full coverage. While it is long wearing, it can look heavy and cakey, as well as settle and crease. We will say, if your skin is more oilier or you’re going to be outside in the heat sweating, you’ll want to top it off with a setting powder.
Honorable Mention: NYX HD Concealer ($6) is a fan favorite formula thanks to its buildable coverage that conceals and corrects. It applies easily with a brush or sponge, allowing a buildable light to medium coverage. What we love most about this formula is that it doesn’t have to be set. It has a self-setting property that gives it a long wear with minimal settling and creasing. The shade range is great with 20 concealers and 3 color correcting shades, but the colors are a bit off, and we do recommend checking out the shades of HD Photogenic in person as the colors are a bit off.
Tip: NYX HD Concealer can be a bit drying under the eyes. Use an eye cream in the morning for a boost of hydration for best results!
Best For Mature Skin: Winky Lux Peeper Perfect
MILABU RATING **** (4.0)
Value **** (3.9)
Application ***** (4.7)
Coverage ***** (4.7)
Feel/Finish/Texture **** (4.5)
Longevity **** (4.2)
Shade Range ** (2.0)
Extra Benefits **** (4.0)
Why We Love It: Dab a tiny dot of Peeper Perfect under your eyes and watch as you get instantly brighter, concealed under eyes! Its creamy texture, brightening properties, and high coverage are a few of the reasons why we love this Winky Lux concealer. The formula is on the wetter side, which gives it an effortless application with the fingertips or a brush. We will say, this is definitely a concealer you want to set. Without setting, it is prone to creasing and wearing off pretty fast. But, paired with a loose setting powder, a creaseproof all day wear is what you’ll get. Its lightweight, yet high coverage formula are why we think this concealer is perfect for all skin types, but especially mature skin.
Honorable Mention: L’Oreal Age Perfect ($13.99) is a great drugstore option for mature skin, too. It has a fluid, stretchy formula that moves with skin to resist settling and creasing. This concealer gives a very natural light to medium coverage with a brightening, radiant finish. Age Perfect Concealer doesn’t have as long of a wear as Peeper Perfect, so you will get some settling and creasing after the 4-6 hour mark. A setting powder will help with this, but this isn’t the concealer we would reach for if an all day wear is needed. However, it could be paired with a longer wearing concealer as a brightener!
Most Inclusive Shade Range: Juvia’s Place I Am Magic Concealer
MILABU RATING **** (4.3)
Value **** (4.1)
Application **** (4.2)
Coverage ***** (4.8)
Feel/Finish/Texture **** (4.4)
Longevity **** (4.3)
Shade Range **** (4.0)
Extra Benefits *** (3.5)
Why We Love It: We love the skin tone inclusivity Juvia’s Place offers. I Am Magic Concealer comes in 24 shades that work for just about any skin tone. Personally, we think the formula of this conceal rivals those that are more high end. It offers lightweight full coverage that is über pigmented! The formula blends in easily with any tool, instantly concealing any imperfections. What makes this Juvia’s Place concealer even better? The formula is sweat proof and waterproof, and its self-setting properties don’t require any added setting powder.
Most Full Coverage: e.l.f. 16HR Camo Concealers
MILABU RATING **** (3.9)
Value **** (4.4)
Application *** (3.0)
Coverage ***** (5.0)
Feel/Finish/Texture *** (3.2)
Longevity **** (3.8)
Shade Range **** (3.7)
Extra Benefits **** (4.0)
Why We Love It: Are the e.l.f. Camo Concealers a Tarte Shape Tape dupe? Not quite, but they do have some similarities. And, dare we say we like the Camo Concealers better? e.l.f.’s Camo Concealer comes in a standard and hydrating version. Both give extreme full coverage to just about anything you need to cover, from dark circles to redness to acne. The Camo Concealer formulas are high coverage and take little product to cover even the most difficult of spots. They do set fast, so we recommend working one spot or eye at a time for best results. The Camo Concealers are best worn with a setting powder on top to prevent any excess creasing and settling, keeping your concealer looking as flawless as possible all day!
Tip: Our favorite way to wear the Camo Concealers is to mix the two formulas. This gives full coverage that doesn’t feel as drying while adding a bit of radiance to the skin. Because these concealers are so affordable, you really can customize your look!
Honorable Mention: Another high performing, full coverage drugstore concealer is Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define ($7). Just like the e.l.f. Camo Concealers, this one comes in both an original and hydrating formula ($7). Not only do they provide amazing coverage at an affordable price, but the shade range is super inclusive – 50 shades! Conceal & Define has minimal settling and creasing, but we do recommend setting with a powder as this formula doesn’t fully set down.
Best Brightening: Revlon ColorStay Skin Awaken
MILABU RATING **** (4.2)
Value **** (4.2)
Application **** (4.5)
Coverage **** (4.2)
Feel/Finish/Texture **** (4.5)
Longevity **** (4.3)
Shade Range *** (3.4)
Extra Benefits **** (4.2)
Why We Love It: Are you going for a bright under eye look? ColorStay Skin Awaken will be your new favorite for its ample coverage and brightening effect. Its lightweight texture blends easily with a brush, giving a solid medium coverage. Skin Awaken looks natural on the skin with its soft matte finish. Like any other concealer, it can settle and crease, but we find it minimal and tends to only happen if you don’t set the concealer or it endures strenuous wear. We love that our skin still looks healthy and not dry when wearing this concealer. Nobody wants that dreaded crepey eye look!
Tip: This formula sets quickly and is best to work one eye/area at a time. If it becomes hard to blend in, use a damp sponge or spray some setting spray to help.
Best Matte: Colourpop No Filter Matte
MILABU RATING **** (4.3)
Value **** (4.0)
Application **** (4.4)
Coverage ***** (4.7)
Feel/Finish/Texture **** (4.5)
Longevity **** (4.4)
Shade Range **** (3.9)
Extra Benefits **** (4.0)
Why We Love It: We’re all familiar with the matte concealer that ruins it for the rest. You know the one: drying, settles into every line and crease, and looks cakey after a full day of wear. Luckily, Colourpop changed the game with No Filter Concealer. This matte concealer is high coverage, meaning it requires little product to cover anything from dark circles to redness to acne. Because little product is required, theres a lower chance of it settling, creasing, and looking cakey. And, for a matte concealer, this one isn’t drying. It has a brightening effect, too. If you have oilier skin, we especially think you’ll love this concealer for the face and under eye area.
Tip: We don’t recommend this concealer as an eyeshadow primer. It results in creasing and doesn’t help keep eyeshadow from wearing off.
Most Long Wearing: L’Oreal Infallible Full Wear
MILABU RATING **** (4.2)
Value **** (4.1)
Application **** (4.2)
Coverage (full) **** (4.6)
Feel/Finish/Texture (matte) **** (4.0)
Longevity **** (4.7)
Shade Range **** (3.7)
Extra Benefits **** (3.7)
Why We Love It: Full coverage brightening coupled with a long wear? Sign us up! L’Oreal Infallible Full Wear Concealer does a bit of everything. A little bit goes a long way with this full coverage formula, and it blends easily with a brush, sponge, or fingers. Though, it does set pretty quickly, so we recommend working one eye/area at a time! Where this concealer really shines, though, is its wear: the coverage does not fade and it has minimal settling and creasing. It doesn’t give that dreaded crepey under eye look no matter how long it’s on for. With this waterproof concealer, you don’t have to worry if you go for a swim or are outside sweating! A life proof concealer? Yes, please!
Tip: Infallible Concealer also works super well as an eyeshadow base!
Honorable Mention: Catrice True Skin High Cover Concealer ($7) is one of the longest wearing formulas we’ve tried. But, this comes at a risk: it can feel and look drying. If you have dry skin, this concealer works best paired with an eye cream underneath and no powder over top. We think True Skin would work exceptionally well for oily skin! The natural oils of your skin will help it look less dry throughout the day.
What Are Milabu Picks?
Milabu Picks are makeup products that lead the industry in their price categories (i.e. value, pro-grade, luxury) and product type. These products are reviewed and chosen by the Milabu team on a yearly basis. Many of these makeup products exceed the industry standard favorites, and some of them are, to this day, the industry standard leading the makeup industry.
Edited by Maddie